Realistic Model Railways

There is a great breadth of knowledge and skills required
to create a realistic model railway transportation world. As an example
of the diversity of learning needed in the hobby, check the following
listing of knowledge and skills involved when creating a model railroad.
They are categorized by sequential but recursive phases of activity.
Use the contact info at the foot of the page to make content suggestions
or correct my errors and omissions.

Research

Knowing about how real railways developed and how they operated leads
to a more realistic model train empire and greater satisfaction in the
long run. One should immerse himself into study first to know the tradeoffs
taken when the layout is designed, constructed, and operated. However one
does not have to be absolutely prototypical in any phase
and in fact too much concern detracts from the 'fun' aspect of the hobby.
Always be pragmatic about accuracy versus fun.

Economics - what industries developed because the railway was
there and which ones needed the railway to continue operating?

Geography - what is the physical setting of area serviced by
the railway? Is it urban, rural, seaside, flatlands, desert, mountains,
forest, etc?

History - What timeframe (pre 1900, steam, transition, diesel,
modern) and what social and political environment allowed the railway to
develop as it did?

Sociology - what were the job classifications and
organizational structure of the railway?

Physics - how do steam engines work? how do diesel-electric
engines work? what about momentum, string-lining and dynamic brakes?

Engineering - trackwork, bridges, tunnels. buildings,
signaling etc.

Planning

Planning is the stage where research is digested and remolded according
to resources available to the modeler. These resources are time, finances,
physical facilities, energy level, and personal motivations. Tradeoffs are
made and drawings evolve. Some even choose a professional to get it right
the first time!

Construction

At some point sweat equity investment is necessary. For some this
is fun as it is an extension of their skills in home
ownership. For others it is a phase that just needs to be done!
And a few choose to let a pro do it for them.

Sounds

Engine and ambient background sounds add to the apparent realism of
a model railway. They can be achieved through dedicated hardware (eg.
MRC Sound Systems), DVD sound effect discs (eg. Fantasonics Engineering)
or interactive modules (eg.
Pricom Design). DCC control systems such as
LokSound and
SoundTraxx allow on-board
engine sounds that are both realistic and easy to install.

Operations

Operations is the reason that model railways are not like
railway models! Operating trains in a prototypical fashion is what it
is all about for some. You may want to view my attempt to understand
basic operations,
freight forwarding and
train operations or my listing
of operations software. Other modelers (in fact
the majority) just don't get it. They prefer to model equipment and scenery
and operation is just a few laps of the track by a long train. But everyone
has their own interpretation of what is fun and there is no federal
inspector dropping by to enforce any rules.